About Us

VP of Finance and Operations

Carissa Tonner

Carissa joined Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area in 2014 soon after moving to San Francisco from the Midwest. Her areas of expertise include operations management, process improvement, and financial oversight, and she believes that well-run operations are essential in enabling nonprofit teams to focus on the critical mission work. Before relocating to California, Carissa worked as Administrative Director for The Conservation Center, the nation’s largest privately-held art conservation laboratory, and for the corporate division of renowned jewelry retailer Lester Lampert, where she managed client services and fulfillment. Carissa’s educational background includes a Master of Business Administration degree and a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from Roosevelt University. When she isn’t poring over spreadsheets, you’re likely to find Carissa wandering around a museum or enjoying some french fries.

VP of Data & Systems Administration

Rick Ohren

Rick has been with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area since 2008, starting as Data Communications Specialist before becoming Director of Operations in 2013. He was named Vice President of Operations in 2014 and Vice President of Data and Systems Administration in 2017. Prior to his arrival at BBBSBA, Rick worked for over 17 years in retail management, where he developed his penchant for problem-solving and system management, as well has his desire to help others and serve the public.

Rick’s educational background includes a bachelor of science degree in Technical Journalism from Oregon State University. He and his wife live in Berkeley.

Director of Communications

Skye Christensen

Skye believes deeply in the vision of Big Brothers and Big Sisters: that all children should have opportunities to achieve success in life. She enjoys developing and implementing communications that support program engagement and organizational brand development. Skye leverages over a decade of experience in communications to effectively address the needs of mission driven organizations and connect them with the communities they serve. She has a BA from UC Berkeley and a Masters in Communication Arts from SF State University. When not on the job, Skye is most content swimming, dancing, and cooking delicious, nutritious meals for family and friends.

VP of Development

Jenifer Jayme

Jen joined Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area as Vice President of Development in November 2016 and has volunteered as a Big Sister for nine years.She brings 18 years of extensive experience in fund development and youth-serving organizations.

Jen has previously served in development leadership roles at the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Santa Clara University Center for Science, Technology & Society, Techbridge (a national nonprofit devoted to STEM education for underrepresented girls), and university, high school and elementary educational institutions (UC Berkeley, and independent Montessori, Waldorf and Catholic schools).

Jen gained invaluable experience over seven years as a fundraising consultant to nonprofits, where she worked with and learned from high net worth donors, veteran fundraisers, and extraordinary boards and leaders at a broad range of philanthropic organizations. At San Francisco-based Laura Talmus Associates, and at the international firm Community Counselling Service (CCS), Jen worked with leading nonprofits on development audits and capital campaigns, including the National Partnership for Women and Families, the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, the Oregon Province of Jesus (Jesuits), the Nature Conservancy of Washington, and Sacred Heart Medical Center.

Jen was raised in government housing in East Boston by a single mother who went from welfare to being a homeowner/landlord and first in her family to earn a college degree.Jen’s career in philanthropy was shaped by childhood years in an inner-city neighborhood of concentrated poverty followed by high school years in affluent Marin County, California, and the stark contrast in opportunities and culture she experienced between those communities. She has a passion for racial and gender equity, and deep interest in youth development and trauma-informed care rising from personal experience, avid reading, parenting a young child, and growing up in a family of social workers and therapists.

Jen earned a B.A. in English with Honors from U.C. Berkeley. She lives in Novato with her husband and 8-year-old son, and enjoys snowboarding, reading, tinkering, and leading arts and crafts activities at her son’s elementary school.

Dir, Individual Giving

Ammarah Maqsood

Ammarah joined Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area in 2017 after spending three years with a national fundraising agency partnering with organizations like Children International, The Nature Conservancy, and Save the Children. She has been in the nonprofit sector for eight years, starting in education and working directly with children. She has years of volunteering and advocacy experience from political campaigns to tutoring underserved youth to being the Regional Ambassador for Girl Rising. Ammarah holds a BA in Political Science and Economics and a Masters in Public Administration (MPA). She applies her knowledge and expertise to be an effective organizational leader in the non-profit sector and build mission driven and sustainable fundraising programs. She has a passion for programs that help lift children out of poverty and allow kids to be kids, especially girls. On the weekends you will most likely catch her reading, drinking lots of coffee, and embracing all the quirks Oakland has to offer!

Dir, Institutional Giving

Laksmi Lagares

Laksmi’s professional experience focuses on Corporate Social Responsibility, Community Engagement, Government Affairs, and Fund Development. As a leader, uniquely skilled at generating a triple bottom line — benefiting community, the private sector, and non profit/philanthropic organizations — Laksmi expertly leverages her role at Big Brothers Big Sisters to support the mission and goals of the organization. When she’s not working hard on grants and partnerships she can be found volunteering in the community and being a “dance mom.”

Special Events Manager

Stacey Mohr

Vice President of Programs

Cristina Barron

“I love working to serve families and children, helping them to realize their potential.”

With a deep commitment to public service, Cristina has spent her career in public health, education and juvenile justice, working for local and federal elected officials as well as managing local, state and federal government programs, including the City and County of San Francisco. Cristina is a UC Davis King Hall Outreach Program alumna, as well as a former fellow of the Leon and Sylvia Panetta Institute for Public Policy, CSU Monterey. She holds a BA in Political Science from California State University, Stanislaus, and an MA in Political Science, Domestic Policy/Systems from San Francisco State University. When she’s not trying to match kids with a mentor, she’s spending time with her elderly dog, Farrah, watching a new show on Netflix, or deep into a book.

 

Program Manager (Milpitas)

Anthony Spivey

Program Manager (Oakland)

Stacie Schlenker